1. Surgical asepsis
Sterile technique

2. Areas Where Surgical Asepsis Is Used
Operating room, labor and delivery areas
Certain diagnostic testing areas
e.g. cath lab
Patient bedside
e.g., for procedures that involve insertion of urinary catheter, sterile dressing changes, or preparing and injecting medicine

3. Basic Principles
Allow only a sterile object to touch another sterile object
Open sterile packages so the first edge of the wrapper is directed away from the worker to avoid touching unsterile clothing.
The outside packaging is considered contaminated.

4. Basic Principles (cont)
Avoid spilling anything on the sterile field. A wet field is considered contaminated if the surface below the drape is not sterile.
Hold sterile objects above waist level to ensure objects are kept within sight.
Avoid coughing, sneezing or reaching over a sterile field.
Never walk away from the sterile field.

5. Basic Principles (cont)
Do not turn your back on the sterile field.
Keep all items sterile that are brought into contact with broken skin, or used to penetrate the skin to inject substances into the body, or to enter normally sterile body cavities. These include dressings used to cover wounds and incisions, needles for injections, and tubes (catheters) used to drain urine from the body.

6. Basic Principles (cont)
Use dry, sterile forceps when necessary. Forceps soaked in disinfectant are not considered sterile.
Consider the edge (outer 1 inch) of a sterile field to be contaminated.
Consider an object contaminated if you have any doubt as to its sterility.

7. Patient cooperation
Explaining surgical asepsis prior to procedure facilitates their cooperation.
Instruct patient about areas and objects that may not be touched
Direct them to avoid sudden movements

8. Opening/preparing a sterile field
Commercially prepared sterile items may be sealed in paper or packaged in plastic containers
Open on flat surface or while hold in hands
A sterile item should be covered if it is not used immediately
Recover by touching the outside of the wrapper and reversing the opening order.

9. Pouring sterile solutions
Outer surfaces of bottle and cap are considered unsterile
After opening bottle label with date, time, and initials.
Most solutions are considered sterile for 24 hours.
Pour with label in palm of hand.
“Lip” pour small amount of previously opened solution out into waste receptacle to “clean” rim prior to pouring into sterile container in sterile field.

10. Adding supplies
Use sterile forceps or sterile gloved hands to gently drop objects into sterile field.

11. Bibliography Taylor: Fundaments of Nursing Sixth Edition
The Art of Science of Nursing Care
Sixth Edition

12. Movie Time